Around and Around
Chuck Berry Lyrics


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They say the joint was rockin'
A goin' 'round and round
Yeah reelin' and a rockin' what a crazy sound
Well they never stopped rockin' till the moon went down

Oh it sounds so sweet I gotta take me a chance
Rose out of my seat just had to dance
Started movin' my feet well a clappin' my hands
Well the joint started

Rockin' going 'round and around
Yeah reelin' and a rockin' what a crazy sound
A well they never stopped rockin' till the moon went down

Twelve o'clock
Well the place as packed
Front doors was locked
Well the place was packed
When the police knocked
Both doors flew back
But they kept on a

Rockin' going 'round and around
Yeah reelin' and a rockin' what a crazy sound
A well they never stopped rockin' till the moon went down

Well they kept on rockin' going 'round and around




Yeah reelin' and a rockin' what a crazy sound
A well they never stopped rockin' till the moon went down

Overall Meaning

Chuck Berry's "Around and Around" tells the story of a wild night out, possibly at a club or a concert, where the party-goers were dancing and singing continuously without any break. The opening line sets the tone for the rest of the song by stating that the joint was rocking, indicating an atmosphere of fun, excitement, and frenzy. The lyrics emphasize movement and sound, highlighting the music's frenzied quality, by using phrases such as "going 'round and round," "reeling and a rocking," and "what a crazy sound."


Chuck Berry himself often played at the Gaslight Square entertainment district in St. Louis, where he lived, and "Around and Around" was written during this period. The song represents the classic Rock n Roll sound of the 1950s, with its repetitive lyrics, fast-paced beat, and guitar riffs. The song's chorus, "Well they never stopped rockin' till the moon went down," creates a sense of urgency and pure pleasure, leading the listener to picture a night of endless dancing and wildness.


In the third verse, the music is so rocking that the police show up to shut it down, but even with the front door locked, the party continues on. This lyric is indicative of the societal tensions of the time, as Rock n Roll music was often criticized as being inciting to reckless behavior, leading to the police shutting down clubs and performances. However, this song shows that the spirit of rock and roll could not be suppressed.


Line by Line Meaning

They say the joint was rockin'
It is said that the place where the music was played was lively and dynamic.


A goin' 'round and round
The music was repetitive and continuous in its rhythm.


Yeah reelin' and a rockin' what a crazy sound
The musical tune was intense and chaotic with a lot of energy.


Well they never stopped rockin' till the moon went down
The musical performance continued non-stop for a long time and did not end until morning.


Oh it sounds so sweet I gotta take me a chance
The sound of the music was so enticing that it made the listener want to participate and dance.


Rose out of my seat just had to dance
The rhythm of the music was so captivating that the listener had to stand up and dance.


Started movin' my feet well a clappin' my hands
The listener started to dance and clap along with the music.


Well the joint started
The place where the music was played became more exciting and lively.


Twelve o'clock
It was midnight.


Well the place as packed
The location where the music was played was crowded and full of people.


Front doors was locked
The entrance to the place was closed and locked, indicating that the musical performance had reached its capacity.


When the police knocked
The police arrived and attempted to stop the musical performance.


Both doors flew back
The doors were forcefully opened by the police.


But they kept on a
Despite the police intervention, the music and dance continued.


Well they kept on rockin' going 'round and around
The continuous and energetic rhythm of the music continued, despite the police disrupting the event.


Yeah reelin' and a rockin' what a crazy sound
The music continued to be vibrant and energetic, despite the police intervention.


A well they never stopped rockin' till the moon went down
The musical performance continued until the early morning, when the moon had set.




Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHUCK BERRY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

lobofan22

Among many outstanding recordings, this is my all time favorite. RIP Chuck Berry.

GOLDBAND45rpm

Mine too!

Celtic StarSeed

No one does this song as good as Chuck Berry! You can't get better then perfection!

Keith. Daggett

Never gets old.

Bart Kiley

You can hear his foot tapping on the floor in the first 10 seconds.

1 More Replies...

Willie Edwards

One of my favorite singer and entertainer.Rest In Peace Mr.Berry.

Dario Witer

Rest in peace, Chuck Berry!(October 18, 1926 - Saturday, March 18, 2017). 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶 😁😁😁😁😁

Robert Bauer

great rock and roll number !! the Stones did a great version early on...

Elsuper2000

One of my favorite songs from chuck berry RIP

Vern Smith

Actually woke up this Am and the song was in my head. I wasn't sure it was Chuck but it was!!! Great song!

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